Yuki Yoru Goes All Out!

The vacuum ice blade was unstoppable, striking fiercely from Hyōrinmaru's edge onto Jiraiya's body.

But Jiraiya's reaction speed was extremely fast.

The moment the ice blade fell, the white hair on his head began to grow rapidly, hardening, and wrapping his entire body within it.

Yoru's Hyōrinmaru struck that white hair, producing a crisp metallic clang!

"Ninjutsu: Needle Jizo!"

"Ninjutsu: Hair Needle Thousand!"

The hair, hard as steel, blocked Hyōrinmaru's attack, then shot out like crossbow bolts.

Yoru's pupils sharply contracted, his figure vanishing instantly, the forehead protector marking his Kirigakure identity completely pierced by the hair like a thousand needles!

"Even immobilized, you can still attack and defend as one. Truly worthy of the 'Dragon Swimming to the Sea' hero Jiraiya..."

Yoru's figure emerged a dozen meters away, gazing solemnly at Jiraiya, who had already broken free from the Six Rods Light Prison's binding.

Just as he had anticipated, the power he currently wielded was somewhat lacking in single-target burst. Against first and second-stage tailed beasts, he could rely on strong control to restrain them, but facing a top-tier ninja like Jiraiya, who specialized in both ninjutsu and taijutsu, it was really hard to handle.

(Don't call me a Jiraiya fanboy. The pervy sage's official stats are ridiculously strong: Nin 10, Tai 9, Gen 6, Int 9, Str 9, Spd 9, Sta 10, Seal 9, total 71 points. Though his genjutsu is garbage, he's exceptionally skilled at dispelling it. He's an absolute hexagram warrior, a legendary ninja with no weaknesses.)

"Such bizarre methods."

Gripping Hyōrinmaru, Yoru's expression was deadly serious, but his gaze was more drawn to the surrounding battle.

With Konoha's high-end combat power fully occupied, the Konoha ninja in Tsunan Town were rapidly being routed by the Kirigakure side.

Every second, large numbers of Konoha ninja were falling. The thick stench of blood had already stained the mist drifting through the air crimson.

At this rate, they couldn't hold out until reinforcements arrived.

"All Konoha ninja, attention! Retreat in three-three-three formations!"

Jiraiya gave the order decisively, but how could the Kirigakure side let these prey escape?

"Keep these Konoha ninja here! Don't let a single one get away!"

"Water Release: Great Dam Whoosh!"

Yagura's cold voice rang out as he clasped his hands together, unleashing his chakra without reserve. The terrifying water release surged like a towering wave, sweeping toward the Konoha forces.

Sarutobi Shinnosuke stepped forward, clapping his hands together, and the earth beneath him rumbled.

A massive earth wall, as grand as a fortress, rose firmly before the crashing torrent.

"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"

But before Konoha could catch their breath, Yoru leaped up in that instant, appearing atop the Super Bursting Water Shockwave.

He plunged Hyōrinmaru into the current.

"The cold won't let you feel pain."

"Hyōrinmaru!"

A biting chill erupted from Hyōrinmaru, freezing the towering wave into a wall of ice, advancing with unstoppable force toward the Konoha side.

If the Bursting Water Shockwave was meant to block Konoha's retreat, then this Freezing Torrent was meant to crush these Konoha ninja completely!

"Ice release of this level?!"

"How is that possible?!"

The Kirigakure ninja on site stared blankly at the terrifying ice wave, especially the members of the Yuki Clan, who were nearly dumbfounded.

"This..."

Yuki Hyōji's eyes went vacant. He seemed to understand why Yuki Akira had treated Yoru that way.

It wasn't because of Yoru's position as ANBU Vice Director, but because of...

This ice release, as terrifying as a natural disaster!

"Boom!!!"

The surging ice torrent shattered the earthen wall in an instant.

Yoru swung Hyōrinmaru downward, and a continuous wall of ice rose from the ground, sealing off Tsunan Town like a mountain range!

In this environment, already turned into a lake by the Kirigakure ninja, Hyōrinmaru's power was infinitely amplified. This was the might of the strongest ice-type Zanpakuto, Hyōrinmaru!

"Vacuum Multi-Layer Ice Wall!"

"Ice Dragon's Tail Whirl: Empty Sky"

Several ice dragons roared forth, crashing down toward the Konoha ninja below. Everything in their path was frozen solid, including dozens of Konoha ninja.

[Ding! Successfully killed one Jonin. Reward: 1000 Points.]

[Ding! Successfully killed one Jonin. Reward: 1000 Points.]

[Ding! Successfully killed one Chunin. Reward: 200 Points.]

[...]

The system's notification sounds rang out without end.

Suddenly.

Flakes of snow began to fall from the sky.

The once clear heavens had now turned grim and overcast, snowflakes and ice crystals descending.

Yoru held Hyōrinmaru high in his hand, boundless cold erupting from it. The falling snowflakes and ice crystals continuously expanded and froze, and in an instant, the world before him was completely transformed into a frozen wasteland!

Heavenly Phenomenon Descends!

Countless figures were frozen within, their lives lost.

Not only people, but the terrain, the remnants of released jutsu, and even the migratory birds flying overhead were all frozen in that moment.

Unbroken walls of ice completely enveloped the entire Tsunan Town, turning this former Konohagakure camp into a frozen tomb of ice!

"So this is Lord Yoru's power!"

"As expected of Lord Yoru—what overwhelming combat strength, what terrifying might!"

"Yoru... you've already reached this level..."

Countless Kirigakure Ninja gazed at Yuki Yoru, standing atop an ice dragon with Hyōrinmaru in hand, their eyes filled with adoration, shock, and disbelief...

Even Yagura was momentarily dazed.

"So this is your true power, Yuki Yoru..."

"The power of Ice Release—this is the real Ice Release!"

At the rear of the battlefield, Yuki Akira, clad in a pure white kimono, stared at the frozen landscape, her entire body trembling uncontrollably.

"Yuki Yoru... Yuki Yoru!"

A rosy flush spread across her neck and cheeks, brilliant light bursting from her eyes as she turned on her heel...

"Boom!!!"

But just as the Kirigakure side believed victory was at hand—

Suddenly.

A massive figure descended from the sky, forcibly shattering the ice wall. A deafening roar broke the silence of this world.

A giant crimson toad wielded an enormous katana, destroying the towering ice walls. From atop the toad, Jiraiya's low voice rang out.

"Gamabunta, break the ice wall. Fugaku, Shinnosuke, lead all survivors to retreat."

"Crack..."

He bit his finger, smearing the blood from his fingertip across the corner of his eye.

His hands clasped together, an indescribable power gathering within them.

"I'll hold the rear!"